​Congratulations to Georgia Bell from Twisted Scissors, with her winning ball number 30.

In support of Helping Hairdressers day Akito teamed up with the Hairdressers' Charity and donated the Akito Kenshi scissor as the prize to be won by the first ball drawn in the Euro Millions Lottery on the 6th July.

A BIG thank you to everyone for their support by taking part and helping raise £250 for this great cause.

The Neglect of the Lefty Hairdresser Our recent survey showed that 12% of hairdressers and barbers are left-handed with only 4% using left handed scissors which in a predominantly right handed world is no surprise.

Many young hairdressers and barbers just starting out are still being told that they can “just turn the right handed scissors around.”​​As any lefty will tell you, this is not true ! And also runs a higher risk of developing RSI or Carpal tunnel syndrome.​​Don't be Left Out!

The competition in celebration of International left-handed day has now ended

Why should Lefties use Lefty scissors?All scissors are designed to work as the thumb (moving) blade passes/crosses over the finger (stationary) blade and ‘chops’ the hair. As we use a scissor we subconsciously exert slight lateral pressure on the blades (bringing them together) to perform the cutting action.

If a left-handed hairdresser/barber uses a right-handed scissor, the reverse is true. The lateral pressure put on the scissor forces the blades apart and so loses the cutting action.

Due to this many left handed stylists adopt a claw type grip (pushing with the thumb and pulling with the finger) which causes strain on the hand and wrist and has a high risk of leading to problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injuries.

Many experienced left-handed stylists who have been using right-handed scissors find it hard to adapt to using left-handed scissors because the subconscious mind automatically works the opposite way around.​​It takes an estimated 30 days to un-train the brain, 30 days to re-train and a further 30 days for it to become ‘natural’. Left handed people are said to be more adept at making these changes from living in the right handed world. It takes time and dedication, which in a busy working environment is not the easiest task to achieve.